Newark student protestors to end four-day sit-in against superintendent
Newark Students Union Update:
URGENT UPDATE!!! NEWARKERS PLEASE COME TO 2 CEDAR STREET AT 5:30 TODAY TO CELEBRATE!
After nearly four days occupying the offices of Cami Anderson, Newark students are claiming victory. Students and community organizers will exit 2 Cedar Street at 5:30 pm!
WHAT BECAME MOST CLEAR DURING THE WEEK IS THAT THE ESCALATION TO DEMAND LOCAL CONTROL MOVING FORWARD WILL DIRECTLY TARGET “THE DECIDER”, GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE.
NEWARK — The Newark Student Union will end its demonstration demanding superintendent Cami Anderson's resignation after four days of occupying the district's administrative offices, the group announced today.
The students will leave the district's central office located at 2 Cedar Street at 5:30 p.m. where they will speak to the press and "claim victory," the group said in a statement.
The Newark group's announcement arrives hours after Anderson met with the students for about an hour, according to the district.
Newark Public Schools' spokeswoman Brittany Chord Parmley said in a statement the meeting was "productive."
"The conversation was productive, and we see this as a promising step towards an ongoing constructive dialogue where both sides are heard and valuable learning time is not compromised," she said.
Today was the first time Anderson has entered the central office, according to the district. Parmley said in an interview that the superintendent has not been working from the district's central office over the last few days and has instead been conducting school visits.
The Newark Student Union confirmed the meeting in a statement but said the superintendent has created "deep mistrust" against the district's policies.
"At this point, the students remain committed to the demand that she resign immediately and return to the monthly public school board meetings beginning Tuesday, Feb. 24th," the organization said. "We must continue the dialogue and develop a process for selecting her replacement."
The small group of student activists have been demonstrating since Tuesday night, when they gathered on the 8th floor of the Newark Public Schools' headquarters, where Anderson's and other administrators' offices are located. The students, who are demanding Anderson's resignation, have stayed in the building, despite school district attempts to have their parents remove them.
Local politicians, including Anderson-critic Mayor Ras Baraka have thrown their support behind the student group.
The protest comes as state officials are deciding whether or not to renew the superintendent's contract. In an interview yesterday, New Jersey Education Commissioner David Hespe said the state is in the "final stages" of making a Newark student protestors to end four-day sit-in against superintendent | NJ.com:
